Margaret Fox Best

Thursday

Mar 21, 2013 at 7:44 PMMar 21, 2013 at 7:46 PM

On March 21, 2013, a beautiful Christian soul left this earthly plane to go to her Eternal Home. Margaret Fox Best passed away peacefully at Tennova Hospice Care in Halls surrounded by her loving family.

On March 21, 2013, a beautiful Christian soul left this earthly plane to go to her Eternal Home. Margaret Fox Best passed away peacefully at Tennova Hospice Care in Halls surrounded by her loving family.

She was a lifelong resident of Anderson County, having been born and raised in Lake City, Tenn. She was the daughter of Henry Clay Foust and Litha Davis Foust. Margaret accepted Christ at an early age and was baptized at Main Street Baptist Church in Lake City.

During World War II, Margaret worked in the secretarial pool in Oak Ridge and rode Fox Bus Lines’ buses to and from work. The driver of the bus happened to be the owner of the company, Eugene Fox. They were married in 1947 and made their home in Lake City, where they had four children. Gene and Margaret were members of Clear Branch Baptist Church at that time and raised their children there to become Christian people. All of them eventually accepted Christ and were baptized. They also taught them, that to become successful, one must trust in God and follow the Golden Rule.

Together Gene and Margaret ran the bus line, a truck stop, a restaurant and a used car business, all in Lake City. In 1953, Gene moved Fox Used Cars to Clinton, where Margaret ran the office.

Margaret was unique in that she was one of the first of her generation to successfully juggle home, family and a career simultaneously, all with such grace and dignity. Her family was blessed to have a strong Christian role model who provided such a Christian home. In 1963, the family moved to Clinton and two years later joined First Baptist Church.

In 1966, they acquired a Toyota franchise at a time when virtually no one had even heard of a Toyota. After Gene’s death in 1968, Margaret continued to run the company, along with her brothers-in-law, Lester and Alvin Fox, and later became one of the first women dealers in the United States.

She also made certain that Gene’s dream to have all of his children graduate from college was fulfilled. All graduated from the University of Tennessee and eventually joined the company.

Margaret achieved many honors during her years with Toyota. She was also a member of The Order of the Eastern Star for many years. In 1987, she was nominated as a Sports Illustrated International Auto Dealers Association Dealer of Distinction and attended the prestigious awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. She was also inducted into the Anderson County Boys and Girls Club Hall of Fame in 2008 as a business leader of the community. Many other awards, accomplishments, and achievements are too numerous to mention.

In addition to her parents, Margaret was preceded in death by the love of her life, husband Eugene Fox; also husband, John Lyell, and her husband, Walter Best; and her sister, Flowrene Stamps.

The family will receive friends from 5 to 8 p.m., Monday, March 25, 2013, at Clinton First Baptist Church with the funeral immediately following with the Rev. Stan Elliott officiating.

Friends and family will meet at 1:15 p.m. Tuesday at Holley Gamble Funeral Home and go in procession to Woodhaven Memorial Garden for a 2 p.m. graveside.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to First Baptist Church Family Life Center, P.O. Box 268 Clinton, TN, 37717, or to Boys and Girls Club of North Anderson County, P.O. Box 537, Lake City, TN 37769.

The family would like to thank the wonderful hospice nurses, staff, and volunteers who made Margaret’s passing loving, caring, and blessed. They are truly angels on Earth.

Holly Gamble Funeral Home (holleygamblefh.com) in Clinton is in charge of all arrangements.